shigeru ban completes zenbo seinei meditation center on awaji island

zen wellness center opens its doors

Well-known for his innovative construction techniques, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has completed Zenbo Seinei meditation retreat, set atop a ridge on Japan‘s Awaji island. The wellness retreat takes shape as a long and slender timber structure that gives the feeling of floating over its verdant landscape. Two steel columns emerge from the vast greenery and support the entire building, which spans 90 meters in length. With its characteristic silhouette, the resulting design offers visitors panoramic views, accompanied by a feeling of openness and relaxation.

image © Zenbo Seinei

celebrating timber and natural views

The ZEN Wellness Center opens its doors to those who desire to refresh their mind and body. The center offers guests relaxing open-air baths, healthy tofu-based cuisine, a café, and yoga sessions on an observation deck with sweeping views of this remote site. According to the architects, the second level is dedicated to an accommodation facility where guests can experience ‘zazen’, a meditative practice. ‘Yoga performed at Zenbo Seinei surrounded by 360 ° nature gives you a feeling of openness and relaxation of mind and body, and a feeling of being filled with life and energy.’

When it comes to the interior arrangement, Shigeru Ban Architects avoided excess decoration, letting nature, which is set as a backdrop, do the talking. Large openings flood the interior with natural light and capture a frame of the wild scenery. The spaces are completed in minimal lines of natural wood, exuding a harmonious atmosphere. The feeling of being immersed in a vast landscape elevates the experience into a peaceful, secluded well-being session.

the whole second level serves as a zazen meditation studio